Although young people tend to not vote, especially in midterm election years, current political tensions and general increased interest may change this in the upcoming midterm election season.
Less than half (49%) of eligible voters ages 18-24 cast a ballot in the 2024 presidential election according to the United States Census Bureau. This number significantly dwindles when looking at the 2022 midterm elections, where only 30% of young voters went to the polls.
Comparatively, older voter groups, ages 25 and above, had an average voter turnout of over 70% in the 2024 presidential election. Voter turnout does decrease in the 2022 midterm elections as well, with almost 60% of older groups voting.
For many college students, their primary focus is on their immediate surroundings: socializing, studying, working, rather than on politics, said political science professor Joshua Kennedy.
“Older Americans have more experience participating in politics such that, for many of them, it has become ingrained as a habit in a way it hasn’t yet for college students,” said Kennedy. “Many young people are, of course, very interested in politics, but they are the exception.”
Although these students who are interested in and care about politics are rare, they do exist.
“I do plan on voting for the midterms,” said sophomore Georgia Southern student Hanora Watson. “I think it’s important to vote in any election that you can.”
Watson did vote in the 2024 presidential election.
Although young people see the largest drop in voter turnout during the midterm elections, almost 19 percentage points, the midterm elections see a lower voter turnout overall, with older voter groups dropping almost 10 percentage points.
In a midterm election, the president is not on the ballot, thus these elections do not draw as much attention, especially in more local elections, said Kennedy. When these more local races happen during presidential election years, a president’s “coattail effect” is noted.
“You’ve drawn voters to the polls who don’t really care about those races further down, but since they’re voting Democrat or Republican for president, they’ll go ahead and vote Democratic or Republican for all of the offices,” said Kennedy.
Without these coattails, it can be difficult to draw less interested voters to the polls.
Although there may be a general lack of political interest among young people, Kennedy does note that he’s seen somewhat increased political activity from Georgia Southern students in the past 12 years.
“I think this reflects the growing political polarization and perceived stakes of political action,” said Kennedy.
This sentiment can also be heard from students concerned with the political climate who believe that voting is important to have their voice heard.
“I am planning on voting in the midterms,” said sophomore Georgia Southern student Seth Slaughter. “Especially with, like, the state of everything, I think it’s very important, I think it’ll have an impact.”
Slaughter did vote in the 2024 presidential election.
Kennedy also suggests that the inability to escape politics in its modern form can contribute to an increase in voter turnout.
“Even with all our options for entertainment and leisure, political information often seeps through to even the most disconnected,” said Kennedy.
